WellingtonSee & Do
A waka experience guide stands in the middle of people rowing at Whairepo Lagoon on Wellington's waterfront.

Te Wharewaka o Pōneke

Discover Wellington’s indigenous history through unique tours with local storytelling.

Te Wharewaka o Pōneke is owned and operated by local , Te Ati Awa. It offers a series of tours that delve into Wellington’s early history and cultural background. The city’s stories come to life on land with guided walking, e-bike, and e-scooter tours. You can also try tours on water in a or on electric ferry, Ika Rere. You’ll learn of the city’s past, the harbour formation, and how the iwi connect to this landscape. 

All tours leave from Te Wharewaka o Pōneke — a distinctive building located by Whairepo Lagoon on Wellington’s waterfront. It is the site where Te Aro Pā once stood, one of the largest Māori communities in Wellington up until the 1880s. Traditional customs and practices are woven into tours as well.

Three people wearing jackets stand beside one another looking at something out of frame. There are two other people and a large glass window in the background.
Inside an exhibition space in Te Wharewaka o Pōneke, a multipurpose function centre and waka house located on Taranaki Stree Wharf on Wellington's waterfront. The dark room has images and text on display with a glass floor in the middle of the space.
A staff member from Te Wharewaka ō Pōneke explains to a group the history of the building, land, and waka (canoe). In the background, is the Wharewaka building and The Rowing CLub.

Guided walking tours

There are four walking tours to choose from. 

On the two-hour Hidden Māori Treasures tour, you’ll head to Te Aro Pā. You’ll find an archaeological site dating back to the 1820s. Hear the story of the people who first occupied the land and how Wellington developed to became the city it is today. 

The one-hour City to Sea tour will have you seeing Wellington from an all-new perspective. You’ll hear about Polynesian explorer Kupe’s arrival in Aotearoa, the story of the that shaped the harbour, and find out how Māori culture influences modern-day life in Wellington. 

On the Rerehiko tour, e-scooters and e-bikes are used to discover the waterfront. Learn about the streams that criss-cross . This tour highlights the local iwi’s purpose and responsibility to the of the city. 

The Harbour Tour will see you board East by West’s electric passenger ferry Ika Rere. This tour, with guided commentary, explores the inner harbour. Learn about the harbour’s formation and see sites significant to the iwi from the water.

A Waka (canoe) in Frank Kitt Lagoon.

Guided waka tour

 
Embark on a cultural and spiritual journey on one of Te Wharewaka’s four traditionally carved waka. Discover the Māori cultural art of navigation. You’ll be taught basic commands, chants, haka, and salutes. Paddling across the water in a waka is a unique and enchanting experience. The tour is perfect for groups, families, or work or sports teams.

Looking for more?

At start of items
Two people ride bicycles along Oriental Bay Parade in Wellington on a sunny day.

Switched on Bikes

Pedal through the streets with the greatest of ease. The hills are no problem with a Switched on Bike.

A group of young children with teachers standing around a green table at Capital E, holding hands.

Capital E

Ignite your children’s creative spark at Capital E — a space to inspire, educate, and entertain.

Two people sit in the grass with their bicycles lying nearby at Mount Victoria lookout in Wellington, New Zealand with a view of the city centre, the bay and rolling hills in the distance.

Trail and a treat: Outdoor combos in Wellington

The city’s hills, beaches, and trails offer much opportunity to experience nature. Fuel your adventure with a stop-off at one of the excellent eateries offers nearby.

The teal-coloured Ika Rere electric ferry leaves its berth on the Wellington waterfront to head out into the harbour. The Wellington skyline is behind it.

East By West Ferries

Experience Wellington from the water, explore the eastern bays and an island nature reserve on the city’s only harbour ferries.

A person wearing a blue helmet, orange lifejacket, is in mid-air, doing a cannonball jump from a tall rock into a stream. Three people watch from below, where they wait with two small red rafts.

Wellington Rafting

Jump in the deep end of a thrilling adventure with Wellington Rafting.

Looking up into the trees at Adrenalin Forest as a child balances across a wire between two tress.

Adrenalin Forest

Get among the treetops at Adrenalin Forest — an epic aerial obstacle course designed to challenge you physically and mentally.

Wide of the cable car driving up the tracks with the sun setting over Wellington city and harbour in the background.

Wellington Cable Car

One of the city’s most iconic experiences, Wellington Cable Car leads to some of the best views of the capital.

Three people drinking beer in front of Brewtown sign in Upper Hutt.

Brewtown Upper Hutt

The ultimate destination for craft beer, and food, plus 4,500 square metres devoted to entertainment.

The monument at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park is located in, Te Aro, Wellington.

Pukeahu National War Memorial Park

A short walk from the centre of the city lies Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. It is a place to reflect on New Zealand’s experience of war, military conflict, and peacekeeping, and how it shapes the national identity.

Inside the dining room of the Katherine Mansfield House on Tinakori Road. Blue walls are covered in decor from the 19th century, including a wall of china plates. The table is set with candleabra and pink china.

Katherine Mansfield House & Garden

Take a step into 19th-century colonial Wellington and the life of Katherine Mansfield. One of the world’s most acclaimed writers and proud Wellingtonian.